| | by Melissa Villarreal
As many of you know, once November comes along the days get shorter and shorter, and Niigata becomes increasingly cloudier. In fact, it is said that when America was deciding where to drop one of its atomic bombs during WWII, Niigata was one of the cities it was considering; however, Niigata's weather, as usual for most of the year, proved cloudy and America decided it would pick another target. Although Niigata's weather saved its citizens from an atomic attack, it still affects many people living in Niigata in the winter as a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD).
SAD, also known as the "winter blues", is a condition that occurs from September to April, with the hardest times being the months of December, January, and February. The condition is brought about by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus that occurs when the amount of time our body is exposed to sunlight decreases (usually in the winter when the day shortens).
Symptoms
Symptoms and severity of symptoms differ from person to person, but the most common symptoms are as follows:
Oversleeping, difficulty waking up in the mornings, feeling of always being tired Fatigue, lethargy Weight gain due to overeating, cravings for carbohydrates and sweet food Depression, feelings of guilt, loss of interests or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy before, etc. Avoidance of social contact/situations Anxiety, irritability, tension
(For a symptoms scoring table, you can visit: http://www.lumie.com/help/tools/do-i-have-sad
Treatments Depending on the severity of the condition, there are various treatments that doctors prescribe. One is light therapy through special light boxes (not the same as tanning beds!). Usually a doctor will prescribe that someone sit in front of one of these special boxes for a set period of time every day until spring comes around. The exposure to the light, which is much lighter than a normal light bulb, usually helps reduce the effects of SAD. For severe cases of depression that might occur with SAD, some doctors might recommend anti-depressant drugs and/or counseling. For those whose condition might not be as severe but are suffering from SAD, there are still some options open. Although not very attainable in Japan, St. John's Wort, an herb said to help with cases of mild depression, is believed to help with depression brought about by SAD; however, because the herb's effects cannot be felt until after six to eight weeks of use, it is recommended that the herb be taken about two months before the winter months arrive. (Please remember to read up on St. John's Wort and its benefits, interaction with other medicine, etc. before use.) Other methods include trying to sit by the window at work, getting outside and enjoying the sunlight during the winter months, and traveling to a brightly-lit climate sometime during winter. As always, if you would like to talk to talk to someone, your PAs are always there for you. | |